A burgeoning online movement, dubbed "Digger Nation," is rallying around Alejandro G. Iñárritu's latest film, even as industry reports suggest it is poised to become one of the biggest financial disappointments of Tom Cruise's career.
The film currently holds a 52 percent score among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, though audience scores have risen to 73 percent. This divergence has fueled a counter-narrative among moviegoers who have found value in the movie, with some sharing their experiences online. Anne Hathaway has become the latest notable figure to publicly endorse the film, sharing a perfect 10/10 review on her Letterboxd account.
"I loved this brilliant movie," Hathaway wrote. "It’s smart and trippy and aggressive and funny and ambitious. It’s worth making the time see and decide for yourself what you make of it."
Anecdotal evidence suggests word-of-mouth is spreading, with some viewers reporting sold-out or nearly full screenings. Meanwhile, Cruise and Iñárritu have been engaged in a global promotional tour in Japan, which included an interview with Hideo Kojima. "The diggerposting is working," one social media user noted, referencing the online efforts to promote the film.
Despite this growing fan base, the financial outlook for "Digger" is stark. With a reported budget of $125 million and an opening weekend gross of only $21 million globally, The Wrap projects the film could lose up to $250 million by the end of its theatrical run, even after accounting for post-theatrical revenue. This figure would represent a significant financial setback for Tom Cruise, and reportedly surprised executives at Skydance, the company that recently acquired Warner Bros.